Into Chesapeake Bay
Moorglade's Voyage
Ted Wilson
Tue 22 May 2012 19:54
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Our Position is 37:14.033N 76:29.959W
We left Waterside Marina in Norfolk at 10:00,
regrettably without a visit to The Naval museum but, as that was the only thing
left on our Norfolk to do list, it was not thought worth delaying our progress
in the Chesapeake by another day. The weather was misty but improving. Heading
out into Hampton Roads it is a busy maritime scene, with pretty much every sort
of vessel going about their business. Lots of barges and tugs, plenty
of pleasure craft, a NOAA catamaran, big freighters, ferries and a spectacular
array of navy ships. The chart shows a major highway going across the bay, which
was a little confusing as there is no bridge. It became apparent as we
approached it was a tunnel so why show the road? Staying on the starboard edge
of the main channel kept us out of trouble and we were soon turning to port
to take us round Old Point Comfort, unrolling the headsail, and
heading up Chesapeake bay to York River. The weather improved all day and
by 16:00 both Moorglade and Another Adventure had secured to mooring balls off
Yorktown. At first it did not seem to be a great decision as, with wind over an
ebbing tide, there was a significant chop and we were both pushing up on our
moorings and rolling a little. It was also a very long possibly wet dinghy ride
upriver to the dinghy dock. we had to hurry off to the shore as the harbour
master was going home at 5pm and he wanted us to check in. The Harbour Master,
Mike, turned out to be one of the friendliest and helpful guys you could wish to
meet. He was as good as any tourist information office, sorting out the best way
to go sightseeing on the following day. There was just a short time to have a
look round the sights on the waterfront before it was time to meet up with John
and Travis's friends for the evening. Good beer, good food, good company, good
evening and back to the dingy for the run back to our boats in the dark. By now
the tide had turned and the wind dropped so a dry ride.
 Freighters to
port
and starboard
 Busy
tugs
tugs alongside
 Tugs passing
ahead
Barges and warships
 Warships to
port
warships as far as you can see to starboard
 Some of them very
large
Yorktown monument from the mooring
 The dinghy dock from the mooring, and that was
zoomed in.
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